Feed-bag.



. PATENTBD FEB. 25, 1903.

R. J. BROOKS.

FEED BAG. APPLICATION IILED'JULY 1a. 1901.

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Wag-195' No. 880,438. PATENTBD FEB. 25, 1908.

R. J. BROOKS.

FEED BAG. APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1907.

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ROY J. BROOKS, OF CASSOPOLIS, MICHIGAN.

FEED-BAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed July 18. 1907- Serial No. 384.320-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY J. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cassopolis, in the county of Cass and State of Michigan,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Feed-Bags, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to feed bags such for example as those used forfeeding grain to horses.

The objects of the invention are: First, to provide a simple andconvenient device in which grain may be stored without spilling when thedevice is not in use. Second, to provide a device of this class whichshall not tend to cave in against the head of the animal when in use.Third, to rovide a simple and efficient means for regu ating theposition of the bottom of the device with reference to the sides orwalls thereof. Fourth, to provide a ventilation pocket so constructedthat the animal may have plenty of air to breathe and yet will beprevented from scattering and wasting the grain; and fifth, to providecertain refinements of detail which render the device practical andconvenient as hereinafter described.

I accomplish my objects by the device illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the device shown in position uponthe head of a horse. Fig. 2 shows the device in a relation similar toFig. 1 and illustrates the possible relative positions of the inner andouter receptacles. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the bag whenplaced upside down for filling it with grain. Fig. 4 is a lan sectiontaken on line 44 Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevationtaken on line 55 Fig. 4. This figure illustrates the constructions ofthe lower edges of the inner and outer receptacles and the peripheraledge of the bottom. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan section taken on line66 Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail showing the preferred mannerof ointing the reinforcing ribs of the inner receptacle.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This device consists primarily of two receptacles, an inner one 10, anouter one 11, and a valve-like bottom 12. These receptacles arepreferably made of canvas or other flexible and durable material andalthough ric it is preferable for practical reasons to make them ofdifferent pieces sewed' together at the upper edges for example at 13Fig. 2. As usual in articles of this class, the device is adapted to bestrapped or otherwise secured to the head of a horse or other animal.The outer receptacle 11 is considerably larger in diameter than theinner one, in consequence of which a pocket 14 is formed in the side ofthe device for the storage of grain or chopped feed. In the preferredform the pocket 14 does not extend entirely around the bag, but thefront portion is made single, In order to prevent the collapsing of theinner receptacle against the head of the horse when the device is inuse, reinforcing strips or ribs 15 are secured upon the inner bag inapproximately horizontal position by means of stitching or otherwise. Iprefer to make these ribs of wire formed in two pieces j ointed as shownat 16 Figs. 4 and 7. The joint there shown consists of interengagedeyes, the idea being that with such construction the sides of the devicemay be brought somewhat closely together when the device is beingtransported, but will not bulge inwardly against the head of the animalwhen the latter is feeding. These ribs 15 are placed at some distanceapart, three or four being a suitable number to be interposed betweenthe upper and lower edges of the receptacle. By

thus spacing them the bag may be collapsed or folded in a verticaldirection. for transportation. This construction also permits the innerreceptacle to be more readily collapsed in the vertical direction tothereby facilitate the introduction of grain into the pocket 14 when thedevice is in inverted position and being charged or filled as indicatedin Fig. 3. The inner and outer receptacles are provided with ribs 17 and18 respectively for preserving the contour of these lower edges. Theouter rib 18 should have considerable stifiness and may be made of alight gage of band iron as indicated for example in Fig. 5. The bottom12 is hinged to these ribs 17 and 18 in any suitable manner for examplethe pins or rivets 19 best shown in Fig. 6. In its best form said bottom12 is of metal and is provided with an upwardly extending marginalflange 20 (see Figs. 3 and 5) adapted to make a comparatively close fiton the outside of the lower edge of the inner receptacle and the inneredge of the outer receptacle. It is obvious that if thus conthey may beformed of a single piece of fabstructed said bottom may make a tightclosure with both the inner and outer receptacles.

The preferred means for holding the bottom 12 in proper positionrelatively to the lower edge of the inner receptacle is the strap 21having a series of apertures 21 through which a pin 22 may be insertedbe neath the bottom 12. By preference the bottom has an aperture 23through which strap 21 may pass. 7

It is desirable in devices of this kind to provide means for supplyingair to the bottom of the bag to facilitate the animals breathing. Iaccomplish this purpose by forming an extension 12 at the front of thebag in front of an aperture 24 formed in the front lower portion of thebag as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Around this opening, andextending upwardly from the edges of the extension 12 is a pocket 25made of canvas or other suitable material and extending to a height considerably higher than the upper edge of the opening 24. It isadvantageous although not essential, that the height of the pocket 25should be at least twice the height of the o enin 24 and should beapproximately half the total height of the entire device. In consequenceof this construction the animal has a plentiful supply of air throughthe opening 24 and pocket 25 but he cannot by the tossing of his head inthe ordinary manner throw the grain entirely out of the pocket.

In the operation of the device, when it is desired to introduce a supplyof grain, the device is turned upside down and the bottom 12 ispermitted to drop below the rib 18 so as to leave an openingthrough'which the grain may be introduced into the pocket 14 between theinner and outer receptacles. The relation of the parts at this time isclearly indicated in Fig. 3. After the bag has received the desiredamount of feed the bottom 12 is brought to closed position so that theflange 20 is in proximity to the rib 18. 1 The device may then be turnedright side up, when the parts will occupy the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to feed the animal the bag isstrapped to its head in the usual manner, the grain being contained inthe pocket 14 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The grain may now be graduallyintroduced into the inner side of the receptacle by pulling out the pin22 and permitting the bottom 12 and ,rib 18 to descend. until there is aproper distance between the rib 18 and 17. The pin 22 is then reinsertedand the weight of the grain will hold the bottom 12 and the rib 18 asshown in Fig. 1. The opening into the interior of the bag may beincreased or decreased by lowering or raising the bag bottom withreference to strap 21.

It is of special advantage that the flange 20 of the bottom 12 shouldfit inside of the rib 18 and outside of the rib 17 for by thisconstruction the part 12 is co-extensive with the largest dimensions ofthe bottom of the device and there is no horizontal. rim extendinginward from the rib 18 to obstruct the passage or decrease the size ofthe opening. Moreover by fitting over the inner rib 17 the bottom 12forms a perfect guide or chute for conveying the grain into the pocket14 during the operation of charging, and there is no chance of leakageor spillage of the grain.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A feed bag comprising an outer bag closed at the bottom and an innerbag open 1 at the bottom, the bottom of the outer bag being providedwith an aperture for a strap and adapted to drop below the lower edge ofthe inner bag thereby permitting the feed to pass from the outer bag tothe inner one, a v

strap secured to the inner bag and passing through said aperture in thebottom of the outer bag, said strap being flexible to thereby permit thelower edges of the inner and outer bags to come together withoutreadjustment of the strap and yet limit the distance to which said edgesmay move apart, and means on the strap for regulating the position ofthe bag-bottom with reference to said strap.

2. A feed bag for animals comprising an inner and an outer part, ada tedto store feed between them, said parts eing open at the bottom, and avalve-like bottom part adapted to fit over the lower edge of the innerbag part when the device is being charged and adapted to fit within thelower opening of the outer bag part to form a bottom for the device whenthe animal is being fed.

3. A feed bag for animals comprising an inner and an outer part adaptedto store feed between them, said parts being open at the bottom, avalve-like bottom part adapted to fit over the lower edge of the innerbag part when the device is being charged and adapted to fit within thelower opening of the outer bag part when the animal is being fed, andstiffeners secured to the inner bag part to prevent the inward cavingthereof, said stiffeners running approximately horizontally and beinglocated at some distance apart to permit the bag to collapse in avertical direction.

4. A feed bag consisting of an inner and an outer receptacle which areopen at the bottom, the outer receptacle being longer than the inner oneso that its lower edge may drop below the lower edge of the innerreceptacle, a rib secured to the lower edge of the outer receptacle forpreserving the shape thereof, and a valve-like bottom hinged to said riband adapted to fit within the same, substantially as described.

5. A feed bag consisting of an inner and an outer receptacle which areopen at the bot tom, the outer receptacle being longer than the innerone so that its lower edge may drop below the lower edge of the innerreceptacle,

- edge of said inner receptacle being also pro- .sso,4ss 8 a rib securedto the lower edge of the outer In witness whereof, I have hereuntosubreceptacle for preserving the shape thereof, scribed my name in thepresence of two Wit- 10 and a Valve-like bottom hinged to said ribnesses. and adapted to fit within the same, the lower i ROY l BROOKSvided with a rib and said valve-like bottom Witnesses: 7

being adapted to fit over it for the purpose HOWARD M. COX,

described. CLARA J. OHRISTOFFEL.

